In Japan, as in many Asian countries, they use a name system that is quite familiar to us, but a little backwards. The Japanese indicate the surname first, and then the personal name. If in Russian it is customary to call Ivan Sidorov, then in Japan it would sound Sidorov Ivan.
As you can see the difference is small. However, when translating from Japanese, this is quite important and young translators sometimes make annoying mistakes. The names of women and men in Japan differ greatly in structure. Personal names are one of the most difficult skills in Japanese.
Modern Japanese culture has undergone a very strong change. If earlier traditions were quite strong in the field of names, now they have completely lost ground. Increasingly, when choosing a Japanese name for a boy, parents turn to modern cultural phenomena. This is how in Japan names from cartoons and comics are used, which even quite old people are fond of.
To transliterate Japanese into Cyrillic characters, the “Polivanov system” is used. This is a transliteration system developed by orientalist Polivanov. It was introduced back in 1930 and since then has been considered the standard in Russian practice. Moreover, it often happens that some sources transliterate transliteration. Let's say they take an English translation and transliterate proper names from it. This often leads to confusion in first and last names in translations.
Japanese boy names popular in 2009-2011
Pronunciation Hiroto Ren Yuma Honeycomb Sora Seth Yamato Haruto Riku Haruto |
Writing 大翔 悠真 颯太 蒼空 翔太 大和 陽斗 陽翔 |
Name meaning big/flying lotus calm/honest dashing and big/great blue sky flying and big/thick big and peaceful/soft solar and capacitance measure land/earth sunny/positive |
List of Japanese male names, their spelling and meaning.
We have compiled a list of names that are quite popular in Japan. This is of course not the entire list of available names, but displays the most used names of the land of the rising sun. We hope you find this information useful.
Pronunciation Aki Akihiko Akihiro Akio Akira Arata Atsushi Goro Give me Daichi Daiki Isamu Isao Iwao Yori Yoshito Katashi Katsu Katsumi Katsuo Kazuo Kenshin Kichirou Keen Kyoshi Kohaku Coe Kunio Makoto Mamoru Manabu Masaaki Masahiko Masahiro Masaki Masanori Masao Masaru Masashi Masato Masumi Michi Minori Minoru Mitsuo Nao Naoki Noboru Nobuo Norio Raiden Ryu Sadao Sora Susumu Tadao Tadashi Takahiro Takao Takashi Takayuki Takeshi Takumi Tamotsu Tarot Toru Toshi Toshio Hachiro Haruo Hideki Hideo Hikaru Hiro Hiroki Hisao Hisashi Hitoshi Tsutomu Yutaka Yasuhiro Yasuo Yasushi |
Writing 秋 and 明 明彦 大畠 昭雄 明 and 亮 五郎 大智 大辉 より 美人 克己 胜雄 和夫 谦信 吉郎 琥珀 幸 and 光 国男 真明 正彦 正洋 昌树 正则 正男 正人 真澄 光子 直 and 尚 直树 信夫 法男 雷电 贞雄 忠夫 忠 and 正 贵浩 孝雄 隆行 巧 and 匠 太郎 俊夫 八郎 春男 秀树 英夫 裕 and 寛 弘树 寿夫 久志 泰弘 康夫 |
Name meaning autumn/bright bright prince great glory glorious hero bright/clear fresh hardworking fifth son big great wisdom great glory/noble courage honor/dignity stone man public servant good man hardness victory restrained child's victory harmonious person humble true happy son gold clean amber happiness/light/peace compatriot sincerity/truth defender study true brightness just a prince justice flourishes thriving tree justice model the right person victory elegant/gorgeous the right person true clarity path true true brilliant man obedient/respected obedient tree get up faithful man man of the law thunder and lightning dragon spirit decisive person sky progresses faithful man loyal/true noble respected hero/man commendable transition to heights fierce/warrior dexterous/craftsman protector/patron great son/eldest son traveler bright/smart brilliant eighth son spring man great opportunity wonderful man shine much/generous/prosperous strength long-lived people long-lived balanced worker rich/prosperous the calmest healthy person calm/quiet |
MALE names - the ratio of Russian and Japanese
Alexander - (defender) - - Mamoru Alexey - (assistant) - - Taske Anatoly - (sunrise) - - Higashi Andrey - (courageous, brave) - - Yukio Anton - (competing) - - Rikishi Arkady - (happy country) - - Shiavakuni Artem - (unharmed, in perfect health) - - Andzen Arthur - (big bear) - - Okuma Boris - (wrestling) - - Toshiki Vadim - (proving) - - Syomei Valentin - (strong, healthy) - - Tsuyoshi Valery - (vigorous, healthy) - - Genkito Vasily - (royal) - - Obu Victor - (winner) - - Serisha Vitaly - (life) - - Ikiru Vladimir - (ruler of the world) - - Heivanushi Vyacheslav - (famous) - - Kagayakashi Gennady - (noble, highborn) - - Koketsu Georgy - (farmer) - - Nofu Gleb - (block, pole) - - Burokku Gregory - (awake) - - Meosamashi Daniel - (God's judgment) - - Kamikoto Demyan - (conqueror, pacifier) - - Seifuku Denis - (vital forces of nature) - - Shizenryoku Dmitry - (earthly fruit) - - Kajitsu Eugene - (noble) - - Ryoidenshi Egor - (patron of agriculture) - - Dzinushi Emelyan - (flattering, pleasant in words) - - Kangen Efim - (blessed) - - Megumaro Ivan - (the grace of God) - - Kaminoonto Igor - (militancy, courage) - - Yujiro Ilya - (the fortress of the Lord) - - Yosaishu Kirill - (lord of the sun) - - Tayenoröshü Constantine - (permanent) - - Eizoku Leo - (lion) - - Shishio Leonid - (son of a lion) - - Shishikyu Maxim - (great) - - Mattakushi Michael - (god-like) - - Kamizu Nikita - (victorious) - - Shorito Nikolai - (victory of people) - - Hitonosori Oleg - (light) - - Hikaro Pavel - (small) - - Shoshi Peter - (stone) - - Ishi Roman - (Roman) - - Roman Ruslan - (solid lion) - - Shishihado Stanislav - (become famous) - - Yumainar Stepan - (crown, wreath, crown) - - Hanawaro Yuri - (creator) - - Yarite Yaroslav - (bright glory) - - Akarumey |
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Do you know Japanese names and their meanings? What names are popular in Japan today? We will answer these and other questions in the article. Japanese names these days typically include a family name (family name) followed by a personal name. This practice is common in East and Southeast Asia, including Korean, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and other cultures.
Name comparison
- Akayo is a smart man;
- Aki - bright, autumn;
- Akio is a charmer;
- Akira - clear, brilliant;
- Akihiko is a colorful prince;
- Akihiro - spectacular, scientist, smart;
- Aretha is the newest;
- Goro is the fifth son;
- Jero is the tenth son;
- June - obedient;
- Daysuke is a great helper;
- Izamu - daring, warrior;
- Izao - merit, honor;
- Iori - addiction;
- Yoshieki - true glory, spectacular success;
- Ichiro is the first heir;
- Kayoshi - calm;
- Ken is healthy and strong;
- Kero - ninth son;
- Kichiro is a lucky son;
- Katsu - triumph;
- Makoto - true;
- Mitseru - full;
- Memoru is a protector;
- Naoki is an honest tree;
- Nobu - faith;
- Norayo is a man of principles;
- Ozemu - autocrat;
- Rio is magnificent;
- Raiden - thunder and lightning;
- Ryuu - dragon;
- Seiji - warning, second (son);
- Suzumu - progressive;
- Takayuki - noble, filial happiness;
- Teruo is a bright person;
- Toshi - emergency;
- Temotsu - protective, complete;
- Tetsuo - dragon man;
- Tetsuya is the dragon they transform into (and have his durability and wisdom);
- Fumayo is an academic, literary child;
- Hideo is a luxurious person;
- Hizoka - preserved;
- Hiroki - rich fun, strength;
- Hechiro is the eighth son;
- Shin - true;
- Shoichi - correct;
- Yukayo is a happy person;
- Yuki - grace, snow;
- Yudei is a great hero;
- Yasuhiro - rich honesty;
- Yasushi - honest, peaceful.
Beautiful names for Japanese men are usually divided into two types: single-component and multi-component. Names with one element include a verb, as a result of which the name has an ending - y, for example, Mamoru (protector). Or an adjective ending in -si, for example, Hiroshi (spacious).
Sometimes you can find names with one sign that have an onic reading. Names made up of a pair of hieroglyphs usually indicate masculinity. For example: son, warrior, man, husband, courageous and so on. Each of these indicators has its own ending.
The structure of such names usually contains a hieroglyph, which reveals how to read the name. There are also names consisting of three elements. In this episode the indicator will be two-link. For example, “eldest son”, “younger son” and so on. It is rare to meet a person with a three-part name and a one-component indicator. It is rare to find names that contain four components written in Japanese alphabet rather than in hieroglyphs.
Name Shizuka
The Japanese name meaning "dragon" is loved by both locals and foreigners. What does the name Shizuka represent? Interpretation of this name: quiet. The meanings of the letters in this name are as follows:
- Ш - developed intuition, impulsiveness, ambition, hard work, independence.
- And - intelligence, emotionality, kindness, pessimism, uncertainty, creative inclinations.
- Z - independence, developed intuition, intelligence, hard work, pessimism, secrecy.
- U - kindness, developed intuition, sincerity, creative inclinations, spirituality, optimism.
- K - developed intuition, ambition, impulsiveness, practicality, kindness, sincerity.
- A - selfishness, activity, creative inclinations, impulsiveness, ambition, sincerity.
The number of the name Shizuka is 7. It conceals the ability to direct abilities into the world of philosophy or art, into religious activity, and the field of science. But the results of the activities of people with this name largely depend on a deep analysis of victories that have already been accomplished and on true planning for their own future. By getting to know other people, they often develop into leaders and teachers of the highest caliber. But if they are engaged in commercial or financial affairs, then here they themselves will need someone’s help.
The planet named after Shizuka is Mercury, the element is cold dry air, the zodiac sign is Virgo and Gemini. The color of this name is changeable, variegated, mixed, day is Wednesday, metals - bismuth, mercury, semiconductors, minerals - agate, emerald, topaz, porphyry, rock crystal, glass, sardonyx, plants - parsley, basil, celery, walnut tree, valerian , animals - weasel, monkey, fox, parrot, stork, thrush, nightingale, ibis, lark, flying fish.
These are Japanese names with translation into Russian :-)* :-D*
Ai - w - Love
Aiko - f - Favorite child
Akako - w - Red
Akane - F - Sparkling Red
Akemi - f - Dazzlingly beautiful
Akeno - m - Clear morning
Aki - f - Born in autumn
Akiko - w - Autumn child
Akina - w - Spring flower
Akio - m - Handsome
Akira - m - Clever, quick-witted
Akiyama - m - Autumn, mountain
Amaya - w - Night rain
Ami - f - Friend
Amiko - m - Beautiful girl
Amida - m - Name of Buddha
Anda - w - Met in the field
Aneko - f - Older sister
Anzu - w - Apricot
Arahsi - Storm, whirlwind
Arata - m - Inexperienced
Arisu - w - Japanese. form of the name Alice
Asuka - w - Scent of Tomorrow
Ayame - w - Iris
Azarni - w - Thistle flower
Benjiro - m - Enjoying the world
Botan - m - Peony
Chika - w - wisdom
Chikako - w - Child of Wisdom
Chinatsu - w - Thousand Years
Chiyo - w - Eternity
Chizu - f - Thousand storks (implies longevity)
Cho - f - Butterfly
Dai - m - Great
Dai - w - Great
Daichi - m - Great First Son
Daiki - m - Great tree
Daisuke - m - Great Help
Etsu - w - Delightful, charming
Etsuko - w - Delightful child
Fudo - m - God of fire and wisdom
Fujita - m/f - Field, meadow
Gin - w - Silver
Goro - m - Fifth son
Hana - w - Flower
Hanako - w - Flower Child
Haru - m - Born in spring
Haruka - w - Distant
Haruko - w - Spring
Hachiro - m - Eighth son
Hideaki - m - Brilliant, excellent
Hikaru - m/f - Light, shining
Hide - f - Fertile
Hiroko - w - Generous
Hiroshi - m - Generous
Hitomi - w - Doubly beautiful
Hoshi - w - Star
Hotaka - m - Name of a mountain in Japan
Hotaru - w - Firefly
Ichiro - m - First son
Ima - w - Gift
Isami - m - Bravery
Ishi - w - Stone
Izanami - w - Attractive
Izumi - w - Fountain
Jiro - m - Second son
Joben - m - Loving cleanliness
Jomei - m - Bringer of light
Junko - w - Pure child
Juro - m - Tenth son
Yachi - F - Eight thousand
Yasu - F - Calm
Yasuo - M - Mirny
Yayoi - F - March
Yogi - M - Yoga practitioner
Yoko - F - Child of the Sun
Yori - F - Trustworthy
Yoshi - F - Perfection
Yoshiko - F - Perfect Child
Yoshiro - M - Perfect Son
Yudsuki - M - Crescent
Yuki - M - Snow
Yukiko - F - Snow Child
Yukio - M - Cherished by God
Yuko - F - Kind child
Yumako - F - Child Yuma
Yumi - F - Bow-like (weapon)
Yumiko - F - Child of the Arrow
Yuri - F - Lily
Yuriko - F - Lily's Child
Yuu - M - Noble Blood
Yuudai - M - Great Hero
Kado - m - Gate
Kaede - w - Maple leaf
Kagami - w - Mirror
Kameko - w - Turtle Child (symbol of longevity)
Kanaye - m - Diligent - Did you think I took this name out of my head?
Kano - m - God of water
Kasumi - w - Fog
Katashi - m - Hardness
Katsu - m - Victory
Katsuo - m - Victorious child
Katsuro - m - Victorious Son
Kazuki - m - Joyful World
Kazuko - w - Cheerful child
Kazuo - m - Dear son
Kei - f - Respectful
Keiko - f - Adored
Keitaro - m - Blessed One
Ken - m - Big Man
Ken`ichi - m - Strong first son
Kenji - m - Strong second son
Kenshin - m - Heart of the Sword
Kensiro - m - Heavenly son
Kenta - m - Healthy and brave
Kichi - f - Lucky
Kichiro - m - Lucky son
Kiku - w - Chrysanthemum
Kimiko - f - Child of noble blood
Kin - m - Golden
Kioko - w - Happy child
Kisho - m - Having a head on his shoulders
Kita - w - North
Kiyoko - w - Clean
Kiyoshi - m - Quiet
Kohaku - m/f - Amber
Kohana - w - Small flower
Koko - w - Stork
Koto - w - Japanese. musical instrument "koto"
Kotone - w - Sound of koto
Kumiko - f - Forever beautiful
Kuri - w - Chestnut
Kuro - m - Ninth son
Kyo - m - Agreement (or redhead)
Kyoko - w - Mirror
Leiko - w - Arrogant
Machi - f - Ten thousand years
Machiko - f - Lucky child
Maeko - f - Honest child
Maemi - f - Sincere smile
Mai - w - Bright
Makoto - m - Sincere
Mamiko - w - Baby Mami
Mamoru - m - Earth
Manami - w - Beauty of love
Mariko - w - Child of Truth
Marise - m/f - Infinite
Masa - m/f - Straightforward (person)
Masakazu - m - First son of Masa
Mashiro - m - Wide
Matsu - f - Pine
Mayako - w - Baby Maya
Mayoko - w - Baby Mayo
Mayuko - w - Child Mayu
Michi - w - Fair
Michie - f - Gracefully hanging flower
Michiko - w - Beautiful and wise
Michio - m - A man with the strength of three thousand
Midori - w - Green
Mihoko - w - Child Miho
Mika - w - New Moon
Miki - m/f - Stem
Mikio - m - Three woven trees
Mina - f - South
Minako - w - Beautiful child
Mine - w - Brave Defender
Minoru - m - Seed
Misaki - w - The blossom of beauty
Mitsuko - f - Child of Light
Miya - w - Three arrows
Miyako - w - Beautiful child of March
Mizuki - w - Beautiful Moon
Momoko - w - Child Peach
Montaro - m - Big guy
Moriko - w - Child of the Forest
Morio - m - Forest boy
Mura - w - Village
Muro - m - Runaway - I didn’t choose this name because of the meaning
Mutsuko - w - Child Mutsu
Nahoko - w - Baby Naho
Nami - w - Wave
Namiko - w - Child of the Waves
Nana - w - Apple
Naoko - f - Obedient child
Naomi - w - Beauty comes first
Nara - w - Oak
Nariko - w - Sissy
Natsuko - f - Summer child
Natsumi - w - Wonderful summer
Nayoko - w - Baby Nayo
Nibori - m - Famous
Nikki - m/f - Two trees
Nikko - m - Daylight
Nori - w - Law
Noriko - w - Child of the Law
Nozomi - w - Nadezhda
Nyoko - w - Gemstone
Oki - f - Middle of the ocean
Orino - w - Peasant Meadow
Osamu - m - Firmness of the law
Rafu - m - Network
Rai - f - Truth
Raidon - m - God of Thunder
Ran - w - Water lily
Rei - w - Gratitude
Reiko - f - Gratitude - Most likely there was "Child Rei"
Ren - w - Water lily
Renjiro - m - Honest
Renzo - m - Third son
Riko - w - Child of Jasmine
Rin - f - Unfriendly
Rinji - m - Peaceful forest
Rini - w - Little bunny
Risako - w - Child Risa
Ritsuko - w - Child Ritsu
Roka - m - White wave crest
Rokuro - m - Sixth son
Ronin - m - Samurai without a master
Rumiko - w - Baby Rumi
Ruri - w - Emerald
Ryo - m - Excellent
Ryoichi - m - Ryo's first son
Ryoko - w - Baby Ryo
Ryota - m - Strong (fat)
Ryozo - m - Third son of Ryo
Ryuichi - m - First son of Ryu
Ryuu - m - Dragon
Saburo - m - Third son
Sachi - f - Happiness
Sachiko - w - Child of Happiness
Sachio m - fortunately born
Saeko - w - Child Sae
Saki - w - Cape (geographic)
Sakiko - w - Baby Saki
Sakuko - w - Child Saku
Sakura - w - Cherry blossoms
Sanako - w - Child Sana
Sango - w - Coral
Saniiro - m - Wonderful
Satu - w - Sugar
Sayuri - w - Little lily
Seiichi - m - Sei's first son
Sen - m - Spirit of the tree
Shichiro - m - Seventh Son
Shika - f - Deer
Shima - m - Islander
Shina - w - Worthy
Shinichi - m - First son of Shin
Shiro - m - Fourth son
Shizuka - w - Quiet
Sho - m - Prosperity
Sora - w - Sky
Sorano - w - Heavenly
Suki - f - Favorite
Suma - f - Asking
Sumi - f - Purified (religious)
Susumi - m - Moving forward (successful)
Suzu - w - Bell (bell)
Suzume - w - Sparrow
Tadao - m - Helpful
Taka - w - Noble
Takako - f - Tall kid
Takara - f - Treasure
Takashi - m - Famous
Takehiko - m - Bamboo Prince
Takeo - m - Bamboo-like
Takeshi - m - Bamboo tree or brave
Takumi - m - Craftsman
Tama - m/f - Precious stone
Tamiko - w - Child of Plenty
Tani - w - From the valley (child)
Taro - m - Firstborn
Taura - w - Many lakes; many rivers
Teijo - m - Fair
Tomeo - m - Cautious person
Tomiko - w - Child of Wealth
Tora - f - Tigress
Torio - m - Bird's tail
Toru - m - Sea
Toshi - w - Mirror Image
Toshiro - m - Talented
Toya - m/f - House door
Tsukiko - w - Moon Child
Tsuyu - w - Morning Dew
Udo - m - Ginseng
Ume - w - Plum blossom
Umeko - w - Plum Blossom Child
Usagi - w - Rabbit
Uyeda - m - from the rice field (child)
Yachi - w - Eight thousand
Yasu - w - Calm
Yasuo - m - Mirny
Yayoi - w - March
Yogi - m - Yoga practitioner
Yoko - w - Child of the Sun
Yori - f - Trustworthy
Yoshi - F - Perfection
Yoshiko - f - Perfect child
Yoshiro - m - Perfect Son
Yudsuki - m - Crescent
Yuki - m - Snow
Yukiko - w - Child of the Snow
Yukio - m - Cherished by God
Yuko - w - Good child
Yumako - w - Baby Yuma
Yumi - w - Bow-like (weapon)
Yumiko - f - Arrow Child
Yuri - w - Lily
Yuriko - w - Lily's Child
Yuu - m - Noble blood
Yuudai - m - Great hero
Gods and deities
NAMES OF GODS
Yarila (legend)
God of rage, youth and beauty and vitality: from earthly fertility and human sexuality to the will to live. Wild animals, nature spirits and lesser deities obey him (or she).
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Yard see [Wyrd]
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Yar-Khmel God of intoxicating mead, beer, wine, fun and winemaking.
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Yan-di God of the Sun and Fire.
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Yama God of the kingdom of the dead.
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Jupiter (legend) God of the Sky, daylight, thunderstorms. Having overthrown his father the titan Kronos into Tartarus, he became the ruler of gods and people.
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Eya see [Oann]
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Etheria Daughter of the sun god Phoebus and the oceanid Clymene.
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Ereshkigal, Lady of the Kingdom of the Dead.
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Eos Goddess of the sun, dawn. "with purple fingers Eos."
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Enlil see [Ellil]
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Enki see [Eya]
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Ellil Enlil. God of air and earth
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Ellie Ellie. Ace, goddess of old age.
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Air Eir. Ace, patroness of doctors, goddess of love.
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Eya Enki. God of the world's fresh waters, wisdom, patron of people.
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Shamash God of the Sun.
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Chur (legend) God of property rights, protection, patron of borders, integrity, protection, protection from damage and evil spirits.
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Chislogod God of time and stargazing, letters, numbers, calendar.
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Zhuan-xu God of waters.
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Chernobog (legend) (Black Snake, Kashchei) Lord of Navi, Darkness and the Kingdom of Pekel. God of cold, destruction, death, evil; God of madness and the embodiment of everything bad and black.
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Tsukiyomi Moon God.
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Hyuk Hjuke. The waxing moon, one of the three goddesses, along with Bil and Mani.
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Huang Di "Lord of the Center". Supreme deity.
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Horse God of the Sun, brother of the Month.
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Hops God of hops and drunkenness. Husband of Suritsa.
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Hlin Hlin. Ace, Frigga's messenger who cares for those her mistress wants to protect.
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Hitzliputzli see [Hitzilopochtli]
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Hitzlapuztli see [Hitzilopochtli]
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Hermod Hermod. Asgardian messenger. His name is mentioned in connection with an unsuccessful attempt to return Balder from the kingdom of Hel.
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Hoenir Hoenir. As, god of priestly functions. He is often called the Quiet God.
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Hel Hel. Daughter of Loki, ruler of the underworld, queen of the dead. Above the waist is an ordinary woman, and below is a skeleton.
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Heimdall (legend) Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, son of Odin, “Wise Ace.” He sleeps less than a bird, can see a hundred days' travel in any direction, and can hear the growth of grass and wool.
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Head (legend) Hoder. Son of Odin, "Blind Ace". He has enormous power, but never leaves Asgard. He is one of the twelve main gods.
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Heidrun A goat who lives in Asgard and eats leaves from the top of Yggrasil. Everyone in Asgard feeds on her milk, strong as honey, and there is enough of it for everyone.
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Fulla Fulla. Ace, Frigga's servant.
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Frigg (legend) Aes, goddess of marriage and procreation, wife of Odin. Frigg rules over the goddesses living in Asgard.
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Freya (legend) Goddess of love, her heart is so soft and tender that it sympathizes with the suffering of everyone. She is the leader of the Valkyries.
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Frey (legend) God of fertility and summer. He is subject to sunlight, he is beautiful and powerful, he is a van who sends wealth.
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Fortuna Roman goddess of happiness, chance and luck. She was depicted on a ball or wheel (a symbol of the variability of happiness), sometimes with a blindfold.
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Forseti Forseti. Ace, son of Balder, god of justice and victory in disputes.
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Phoebus (legend) God of the sun.
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Phaetuza Daughter of the sun god Phoebus and the Oceanid Clymene.
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Phaeton Son of the sun god Phoebus and the oceanid Clymene.
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Ushas is the God of the dawn.
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Usynya One of the three giant brothers, assistants of Perun (Gorynya, Dubynya and Usynya).
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Usud (legend) God is the arbiter of fate. Determines who will be born rich or poor, happy or unhappy.
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Usinsh Latvian "horse god".
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Ouroboros (legend) "Eating his own tail." A snake biting its tail, "starting at the end of its tail," encircling the whole world.
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Uranus Son of the sky god, husband of Gaia, father of Thetis.
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Ull (legend) Patron of archers and skiers, god of fertility and law.
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Ulap (legend) Patron of the Chuvash, hero-god, who cast the sun and moon far from the earth.
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Huitzilopochtli (legend) Hitzliputzli, Hitzlaputzli, "Hummingbird of the left side." Human hearts were sacrificed to this god.
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Wyrd A silent goddess who rules over immortals and mortals.
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Tian-di God of the sky.
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Tyr (legend) Aes, god of war, son of Odin and the sister of the sea giant Hymir, the third of the Aesir after Odin and the bravest among them.
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Tiermes (legend) Udmurt god - thunderer. When he defeats the deer god Myandash, the end of the world will come.
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Trojan Three-headed ruler of three kingdoms. One of Troyan's heads devours people, the other - cattle, the third - fish; he travels at night, as he is afraid of sunlight.
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Triton Sea deity, son of Poseidon and the Nereid Amphetrite.
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Triptolemus Lord of the kingdom of the dead.
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Triglavs Great Triglav: Rod - Belobog - Chernobog. Small Triglav: Svarog - Perun - Veles.
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Triglav (legend) In the mythology of the Baltic Slavs, a three-headed deity. They symbolize power over the three kingdoms - heaven, earth and hell.
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Tochi see [Tlazolteotl]
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Thor (legend) As, god of thunder, son of Odin and the earth goddess Jord. He was considered the most powerful god after Odin.
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Tlazolteotl Ixcuina, Tochi, Teteoinnan. Goddess of fertility, sexual sins, repentance, eater of dirt and excrement.
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Tetis Daughter of Uranus and Gaia, wife of Ocean. She was Phaeton's maternal grandmother; Clymene was her daughter.
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Teteoinnan see [Tlazolteotl]
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Tezcatlipoca (legend) "Smoking Mirror". Forever young, all-powerful, all-knowing god of evil, rival of Quetzalcoatl.
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Thaumant Father of the rainbow goddess Iris.
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Tarkh see [Dazhbog]
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Tammuz see [Dimuzi]
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Tamamo-no-mae One of the evil gods.
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Xiong Syn. As, a goddess who protects people's homes from thieves.
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Sjövn Siofn. As, a goddess who strives for people to live peacefully and amicably.
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Syvlampi "Rosa". Daughter of the Sun and his wives: morning and evening Dawn, sister of man.
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Susanoo God of the wind and water elements, later - the hero who saved people from the eight-headed serpent.
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Suritsa Suritsa is the solar Goddess of joy, light (drink surya (drinking honey)). Khmel's wife. Daughter of Dazhbog.
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Stribog (legend) Supreme god of the wind. He can cause and tame a storm, and can turn into his assistant, the Stratim bird.
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Styx Stux (Greek) - “Hateful.” The goddess of the river of the same name in the kingdom of the dead.
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Srecha Goddess of happiness and good luck.
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Snotra Snotra. Ace, goddess of wisdom and politeness.
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Sif (legend) Sif. As, goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. Sif's beauty is second only to Freya.
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Siva (legend) Siva is the god of sowing, harvest and livestock.
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Si-wanmu Goddess, mistress of the land of immortality.
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Semargl (legend) Simargl, Firebog. The god of fire and the moon, fire sacrifices, home and hearth, keeps seeds and crops.
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Selene Goddess of the moon.
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Svyatovit (legend) God of light, fertility, harvest, autumn sun, grain. The god of war and victory, represented in the image of a warrior - a horseman.
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Sventovit (legend) The highest deity of the Western Slavs, called Wends in the Middle Ages, and Rugs.
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Svarog (legend) God of fire, blacksmithing, family hearth. Heavenly blacksmith and great warrior. There is quite contradictory information about this god.
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Saraswati The beautiful goddess of eloquence.
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Saga Saga. Ace, goddess of stories and genealogy.
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Ran Ran. Van, Aegir's wife, is the goddess of weather and storms, requiring regular sacrifices of souls.
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Rudra One of the main Indian gods, multi-armed and three-eyed. Son of the creator of the Universe Brahma.
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Rodov Triglav see [Greater Triglav]
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Radogost (legend) The essence of the punishing face of the Almighty, the judge of human souls.
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Proteus (legend) Sea god, capable of taking the form of different creatures and transforming into various properties of matter - fire, water, wood.
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Poseidon God of the sea, father of Triton and Proteus.
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Whistling Elder Wind, God of Storms. Son of Stribog.
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Midnighter God of the midnight wind, son of Stribog.
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Midday God of the midday wind, son of Stribog.
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Polel God of love and spring fertility, brother of Lelya and Lelya.
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Podaga God of the hot, drying wind, living in the desert in the south. Son of Stribog.
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Weather Warm, light breeze, god of pleasant weather. Son of Stribog.
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Perun (legend) "Striking". Red-bearded god of thunder, thunder and lightning, patron of warriors and knights. One of the main trinity of gods. His attribute is an axe.
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Pereplut (legend) Pereplut - God of the sea, navigation. The mermen obey him. There is insufficient data on it to accurately determine its functions.
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Ohuras A class of gods in India and Iran.
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Osiris Usyr. God of fertility and king of the underworld.
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Ora Goddess of the changing seasons and hours.
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Ocean Husband of Thetis.
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Odin (legend) Supreme god of Scandinavia, ace, ruler of Asgard, god of warriors.
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Fiery Volkh Guardian of the path to the Irian Garden, god of war and courage. Lelya's husband.
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Ovivi see [Kokopelli]
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Oannes (legend) Eya. Babylonian god of the sea, the oldest of the sea gods.
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O-Kuni-Nushi God, who grew grass and trees on the earth, who taught people to heal diseases.
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Nui-wa Goddess is the creator of humanity.
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Njord (legend) Njord. Van, the patron saint of navigation, fishing and shipbuilding, has power over the winds and the sea. Njord is richer than all the Aesir and, like all Vanir, very kind.
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Ninurta God of War.
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Nintu The goddess who created people, the patroness of women in labor.
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Nereus God of the calm sea. Lives in a palace at the bottom of the sea.
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Nergal Lord of the kingdom of the dead, husband of the goddess Ereshkigal.
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Nemesis Goddess of well-deserved punishment.
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Nedolya is the Goddess, together with Dolya and Makosh, who spins the thread of human life on earth.
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Nanna God of the Moon.
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Nanna Nanna. As, goddess of fertility, wife of Balder, who did not survive his death.
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Namtar "Fate" God who appears to a dying person and takes him to the kingdom of the dead.
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Nabu God is the patron of sciences.
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Morrigan (legend) In Irish mythology, one of the three goddesses of war. She is also called the Mighty Queen and is seen as the Triple Goddess or the death aspect of the Triple Goddess.
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Morok God of lies and deceit, ignorance and delusion. But he is also the keeper of the paths to the Truth, hiding the Truth from others behind the empty shimmer of the world.
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Morozko (legend) God of winter and cold weather. A short old man with a long gray beard. In winter, he runs through the fields and streets and knocks - from his knocking, bitter frosts begin and the rivers are bound with ice.
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Modi (legend) Modi. Ace, son of Thor and Sif, sometimes mentioned as the patron of berserkers.
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Mithra Ancient Iranian deity, embodiment: bull. His cult was very widespread in the Roman Empire in the first centuries of the new era, as the “Soldier God”.
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Mictlantecuhtli Lord of Mictlan, the underworld of the dead.
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Month Month Mesyatsovich, brother of the Sun. “Perun was angry with him and cut him in half with a damask ax. Since then, the month has become not round, but the way we see it in the sky.”
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Mother of Cheese Earth (legend) People revered the Earth not only in pagan times, but also now. The earth is called holy, mother, and she is the embodiment of health and purity. The wife of the sky, which fertilizes her with rain.
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Marzana (legend) Goddess of the death of all living creatures except humans, goddess of hunting, fishing and trapping.
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Madder (legend) Marana, Morena, Marzhana, Marzhena. A goddess associated with the embodiment of death, the seasonal rituals of nature's dying and resurrection, and rainmaking rituals.
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Marduk Originally the god of the city of Babylon, later the supreme deity, “lord of the gods.”
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Mara (goddess) (legend) Morana, Morena, Marena, Mora. Mighty and formidable goddess of Winter and Death, wife (daughter) of Kashchei and daughter of Lada, sister of Zhiva and Lelya. Her symbol is the Black Moon, piles of broken skulls and a sickle with which she cuts the Threads of Life.
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Mani Mani. The Moon as a deity, one of the three goddesses, along with Hyuk and Bil.
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Mamon (legend) Mamon Slavic black deity of wealth and gluttony, opposed to the light gods.
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Small Triglav (legend) Svarog - Perun - Veles.
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Makosh (legend) Makosh is the Goddess who spins the Threads of Fate in Heaven, and also the patroness of women's handicrafts on Earth.
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Magura (legend) Daughter of Perun, cloud maiden - beautiful, winged, warlike. Her heart is forever given to warriors and heroes. She sends the dead warriors to Iriy.
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Magni (legend) Magni. As, son of Thor, god of physical strength.
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Lub (legend) Lub is the Guardian Spirit of the marriage bed. He appeared to be a big-eared, shaggy, golden-haired cat with an arrowhead stalk in his teeth. Lyub had to be appeased in every possible way so that he would drive Nelyub away from the bedroom - the same cat, only black and angry, with a henbane branch in his mouth.
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Lei-shen God of thunder.
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Loki (legend) Giant, god of fire, brother of Odin, accepted by Asami as an equal.
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Summer Olympic goddess.
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Lelya (legend) Spring, goddess of girlish love, younger Rozhanitsa, patroness of lovers, beauty, happiness. Lada's daughter. Semargl's wife.
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Lel (legend) God of youthful love, passion, son of Lada and brother of Lelya. Sparks emanate from his hands, igniting the fire of love.
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Lahmu Lahmu and Lahamu are the most ancient pair of gods generated by primeval chaos.
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Lampetia Daughter of the sun god Phoebus and the oceanid Clymene.
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Lakshmi Born of the ocean, a beautiful maiden in a white robe is the goddess of beauty and happiness.
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Lada (legend) The female hypostasis of Rod, the wife of Svarog and the mother of the Svarozhich gods, the eldest Rozhanitsa (Rozhanitsa - Mother), family deity.
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Lad is the God of reconciliation and harmony, in a sense, order.
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Leuven Lofn. As, the goddess who sanctifies marriages between people.
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Kyldysin (legend)
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Bathing suit Goddess of the night. Mother of Kostroma and Kupala, whom she gave birth to from Semargl.
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Kupala (legend) Kupala (and his twin sister Kostorma): children of the goddess of the Night Bathing Suit and Semargl.
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Kubera God of wealth, living in the heavenly city of Gandharvaranagara (“mirage”).
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Kuaz (legend)
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Kruchina see [Karna]
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Kostroma (legend) The daughter of Semargl and Kupalnitsa, who mistakenly married her brother Kupala, and committed suicide by drowning herself and turning into a mermaid.
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Kokopelli (legend) Ovivi. Small Indian god.
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Clymene Nymph (Oceanide), wife of the sun god Phoebus.
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Kvasura (legend) Originally the god of intoxicating mead, beer, wine, fun and winemaking, almost the same as Yar-Khmel.
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Jord Goddess of the earth.
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Ishtar see [Inanna]
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Ishkuin see [Tlazolteotl]
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Itzamana Mayan god of healing, fair-skinned bearded man. His symbol is a rattlesnake.
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Isis Goddess of the Moon.
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Iris Goddess of the rainbow, daughter of Thaumant.
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Inmar God, ruler of the upper, heavenly world - the world of the gods.
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Indra (legend) "Lord". The main god of the Indian Vedic pantheon. In the Book of Veles he is mentioned as the supreme heavenly god.
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Inari One of the good gods, benevolent and wise.
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Inanna Ishtar. Goddess of fertility and love
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Isis see [Isis]
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Idunn see [Iddun]
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Izanami Goddess, wife of Izanaki, later the mistress of the kingdom of the dead.
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Izanaki Izanaki is the god, creator of the earth and people.
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Iddun (legend) Idunn. As, goddess of eternal youth and healing.
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Zimtserla (legend) Lady of the beginning of the day, goddess of the dawn. It comes out at night to frolic over forests and fields, and then they call it Zarnitsa.
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Zeus is the Supreme Olympian god.
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Zevana (legend) Goddess of animals and hunting. In the temple she holds a drawn bow and a trap in her hands, and at her feet lies a spear and a knife.
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Zhurba see [Zhelya]
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Zhelya see [Zhelya]
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Zhiva see [Zhiva]
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Alive (legend) is the Goddess of Spring and Life in all its manifestations: the Life-giving Forces of Nature, spring seething waters, the first green shoots; patroness of young girls and young wives.
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Zhelya (legend) Zhelya, Zhurba. The goddess of mortal sadness, pity and funeral lament, the messenger of the dead, escorting them to the funeral pyre. Even the mere mention of her name lightens the soul.
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Erd Erd. As, mother of Thor, goddess of the earth.
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Dyy (legend) The name of God, mentioned in the Old Russian insert into the South Slavic text “The Virgin’s Walk through the Torments.” Sometimes - a general designation for the middle gods.
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Dubynya One of the three giant brothers, assistants of Perun (Gorynya, Dubynya and Usynya).
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Doris Sea goddess, wife of Nereus, mother of the Nereids.
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Share (legend) Heavenly spinner, spinning the good, blessed thread of human life. Nedolya's sister, Mokosh's assistant.
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Dodola (legend) Thunder goddess of spring. She walks over the fields and fields with her retinue, and Perun and his companions chase after them in the noise of a spring thunderstorm.
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Dogoda (legend) God of quiet, pleasant winds and clear weather. A ruddy, brown-haired young man in a cornflower blue wreath, in silver-blue clothes, with semi-precious wings on his back.
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Dimuzi Tammuz. God of spring fertility, patron of cattle breeders.
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Dimu-nyannian Goddess, personification of the earth.
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Did (legend) The third son of the goddess Lada, after Lelya and Polelya, the god of marital love. The eternally young Did patronizes strong unions and is revered as a symbol of ageless, inescapable love.
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Divya (legend) (Diva) Goddess of nature, mother of all living things. The primary goddess, equal in size to Diyu.
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Diverkiz (legend) Hare god, once revered by Slavic and Baltic tribes.
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Diva (legend) Virgo, Divia, Dina (Vlach), Devana (Czech) Goddess of hunting, protected forests, animals, maidens (women's secret hunting communities).
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Dijun God, father of the heavenly bodies.
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Danaus Father of the nymph Amymon.
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Dana (legend) Goddess of water. She was revered as a bright and kind goddess, giving life to all living things.
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Dazhdbog Svarozhich (legend) Dabog, Dazhbog, Dabusha. “God who gives”, “Giver of all good things”. Sun God, son of Svarog.
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Gullveig (legend) Gullveig. Van, one of the main opponents of the aces. The Aesir speak of her as a witch and sorceress.
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Horus Bird-headed god of the sun.
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Gna Gna. Ace, Frigga's servant and messenger, traveling to different worlds, carrying out orders for her mistress.
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Gaia Goddess - Earth, wife of Uranus, mother of Tetis.
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Gefyun Gefju. Ace, goddess of gardening and the plow
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Hephaestus God of flame, blacksmith.
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Hermes Trismegistus (Thrice Greatest). Patron of magic and esotericism.
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Hermes "Messenger", "Thief", "Psychopomp" - the leader of souls to the kingdom of Hades.
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Helia Daughter of the sun god Phoebus and the oceanid Clymene.
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Helios Sun God of Olympus, son of the titans Hyperion and Theia, brother of Selene and Eos.
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Geladas Daughters of the sun god Phoebus and the oceanids Clymene: Phaetusa, Lampetia, Helia and Etheria.
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Hecate Goddess of dark forces, the underworld and the night, three-faced and snake-haired.
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Garuda (legend) Bird of Paradise, half-eagle, half-man, symbol of speed and power, child of heaven and king of all birds. Phoenix.
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Vjofn Vjofn. Aes, goddess of harmony and example, resolving disagreements among mortals.
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Vulcan Roman God-blacksmith, as well as the god of purifying flame, protecting from fires.
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Vritra Demon from the myth of Indra.
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Wotan God of the Maya, light-skinned bearded man. His symbol is a snake
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Thief Vor. Ace, goddess of curiosity and mystery solving
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Water strider Small Indian god.
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Vishnu The second god of the trinity, heading the Brahmanic pantheon. Depicted as blue, with four arms, holding a club, a conch shell, a disc and a lotus.
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Vili is wanted by As, son (daughter) of Bor, brother (sister) of Odin and Ve.
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Vidar (legend) The Silent Ace, the son of Odin and the giantess Grid, is almost as powerful as the god of thunder Thor.
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Vecherka Goddess of the evening (she corresponds to Vechernik). Sister of Poludnitsa, Bathing Lady and Dawn - Zarenitsa.
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We are looking for As, son (daughter) of Bor, brother (sister) of Odin and Vili.
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Varuna God of the Ocean.
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Varma-ava Goddess of the wind in Mordovia.
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Var Var. Ace, goddess of truth. Listens to and writes down people's vows.
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Vans Vaner. A genus of gods in Scandinavia who were at enmity with the gods - Asami.
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Vanadis see [Freya]
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Vali (legend) As, one of the twelve main (after Odin) gods.
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Storm (legend) Goddess of the wind, wife of Stribog. "Required like Stribog."
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Buri Buri. Ace, freed from the ice by the cow Audumla, Bor's father.
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Bulda One of the gods. wanted
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Bragi (legend) "Longbeard". As, god of poets and skalds, son of Odin, husband of Idunn.
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Bor Bor. As, son of Storm, husband of Bestla, father of Odin, Vili and Ve.
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Great Triglav or Rodov Triglav: Rod - Belobog - Chernobog.
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Bozhich (legend) Bozhik (Maked.), Mares (Lat.). One of the heroes of the caroling ritual, a symbol of the New Year. Bozhich is the patron of family and home.
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Bogumir (legend) Son of Dazhbog and Morena. He married Slavun and from him came all the people on the Russian land, the tribes from his children. That’s why they say that the Rus are Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.
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Bil Bil. Waning Moon, one of the three goddesses, along with Hyuk and Mani.
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Belobog (legend) The embodiment of Light, Goodness, Luck, happiness, goodness, the personification of the daytime spring sky. A collective image of all the light gods.
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Barma (legend) God of prayer. This is a good god, but if he gets angry, at that moment it is better not to get in his way.
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Balder (legend) Ace, god of spring, joy and happiness. With his death, the world became gray and dull, as it is now.
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Aushra Lithuanian god of the dawn.
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Aces Aesir. The genus of gods in Scandinavia.
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Aster "Star". One of the names of Veles.
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Aslati God of Thunder.
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Artemis Goddess of the hunt.
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Apollo is the Olympian sun god, son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis.
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Anu God of the sky.
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Andrimnir (legend) Cook in Valhalla.
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Amaterasu Amaterasu is the sun goddess.
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Hades Lord of the kingdom of the dead.
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Azovushka Wife of Veles.
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Aegir (legend) Van, god of the sea, who controls the mood of the sea surface.
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Aditya The Supreme spirit, the essence of the universe in the Rig Vedas.
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Aditi Father of all gods.
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Adad God of thunder, rain and storm.
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Agunya (legend) God of Earthly Fire, the youngest of the Svarozhichi. It represents the Power of the Heavenly Gods on Earth - cleansing and protecting from all evil spirits.
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Agric A legendary hero who owned a treasure sword, mentioned in “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia.”
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Aurora Goddess of the morning dawn.
Japan is a unique country. What is behind these words? Special, unlike anything else nature, culture, religion, philosophy, art, way of life, fashion, cuisine, harmonious coexistence of high technology and ancient traditions, as well as the Japanese language itself - as difficult to learn as it is fascinating. One of the most important parts of the language is given names and surnames. They always carry a piece of history, and Japanese ones are doubly curious.
Decipher the name
Why do we, foreigners, need to know all this? Firstly, because it is informative and interesting, because Japanese culture has penetrated into many areas of our modern life. It is very interesting to decipher the surnames of famous people: for example, the animator Miyazaki - “temple, palace” + “cape”, and the writer Murakami - “village” + “top”. Secondly, all this has long and firmly become part of the youth subculture.
Fans of comics (manga) and animation (anime) simply love to take various Japanese names and surnames as pseudonyms. Samp and other online games also actively use such nicknames for player characters. And it’s not surprising: such a nickname sounds beautiful, exotic and memorable.
These mysterious Japanese first and last names
The Land of the Rising Sun will always find something to surprise an ignorant foreigner. It is noteworthy that when recording or officially introducing a person, his last name comes first, and then his first name, for example: Sato Aiko, Tanaka Yukio. This sounds unusual to the Russian ear, and therefore it can be quite difficult for us to distinguish Japanese names and surnames from each other. The Japanese themselves, in order to avoid confusion when communicating with foreigners, often write their surname in capital letters. And it really makes the task easier. Fortunately, it is customary for the Japanese to have only one first name and one surname. And such a form as patronymic (patronymic) is absent among these people at all.
Another unusual feature of Japanese communication is the active use of prefixes. Moreover, these prefixes are most often added to the surname. European psychologists say that there is nothing more pleasant for a person than the sound of his name - but the Japanese apparently think differently. Therefore, names are used only in situations of very close and personal communication.
What attachments are available in
- (last name) + san - universal polite address;
- (last name) + sama - address to government members, company directors, clergy; also used in stable combinations;
- (surname) + sensei - an appeal to martial arts masters, doctors, as well as professionals in any field;
- (last name) + kun - addressing teenagers and young men, as well as senior to junior or superior to subordinate (for example, boss to subordinate);
- (name) + chan (or chan) - appeal to children and among children under 10 years old; parents' appeal to their offspring of any age; in an informal setting - to lovers and close friends.
How common are Japanese first and last names? It's surprising, but even family members rarely call each other by name. Instead, special words are used meaning "mom", "dad", "daughter", "son", "elder sister", "little sister", "elder brother", "little brother", etc. To these words The prefixes “chan (chan)” are also added.
Female names
Girls in Japan are most often called names that mean something abstract, but at the same time beautiful, pleasant and feminine: “flower”, “crane”, “bamboo”, “water lily”, “chrysanthemum”, “moon”, etc. similar. Simplicity and harmony are what distinguish Japanese names and surnames.
Female names in many cases contain the syllables (hieroglyphs) “mi” - beauty (for example: Harumi, Ayumi, Kazumi, Mie, Fumiko, Miyuki) or “ko” - child (for example: Maiko, Naoko, Haruko, Yumiko, Yoshiko, Hanako , Takako, Asako).
Interestingly, some girls in modern Japan consider the ending “ko” unfashionable and omit it. So, for example, the name "Yumiko" turns into the everyday used "Yumi". And her friends call this girl “Yumi-chan.”
All of the above are quite common Japanese female names these days. And the girls’ surnames are also strikingly poetic, especially if you translate the exotic combination of sounds into Russian. Most often they convey the image of a typical Japanese village landscape. For example: Yamamoto - “the base of the mountain”, Watanabe - “to cross the surrounding area”, Iwasaki - “rocky cape”, Kobayashi - “small forest”.
Japanese names and surnames open up a whole poetic world. Women's ones are especially similar to works in the haiku style, surprising with their beautiful sound and harmonious meaning.
Male names
Men's names are the most difficult to read and translate. Some of them are formed from nouns. For example: Moku (“carpenter”), Akio (“handsome”), Katsu (“victory”), Makoto (“truth”). Others are formed from adjectives or verbs, for example: Satoshi (“smart”), Mamoru (“protect”), Takashi (“tall”), Tsutomu (“try”).
Very often, Japanese male names and surnames include hieroglyphs indicating gender: “man”, “husband”, “hero”, “helper”, “tree”, etc.
Often used This tradition originated in the Middle Ages, when families had many children. For example, the name Ichiro means “first son”, Jiro means “second son”, Saburo means “third son”, and so on until Juro, which means “tenth son”.
Japanese boys' names and surnames can be created simply on the basis of the hieroglyphs available in the language. During the imperial dynasties, great importance was attached to what to call oneself and one’s children, but in modern Japan, preference is given simply to what one liked in sound and meaning. At the same time, it is not at all necessary that children from the same family bear names with a common hieroglyph, as was traditionally practiced in the imperial dynasties of the past.
All Japanese male names and surnames have two characteristics in common: semantic echoes of the Middle Ages and difficulty in reading, especially for a foreigner.
Common Japanese surnames
Surnames are distinguished by their large number and diversity: according to linguists, there are more than 100,000 surnames in the Japanese language. For comparison: there are 300-400 thousand Russian surnames.
The most common Japanese surnames today are: Sato, Suzuki, Takahashi, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Saito, Kudo, Sasaki, Kato, Kobayashi, Murakami, Ito, Nakamura, Oonishi, Yamaguchi, Kuroki, Higa.
Fun fact: Japanese first and last names vary in popularity depending on the area. For example, in Okinawa (the country's southernmost prefecture), the surnames Chinen, Higa and Shimabukuro are very common, while in the rest of Japan very few people have them. Experts attribute this to differences in dialects and culture. Thanks to these differences, the Japanese can tell just by the surname of their interlocutor where he is from.
Such different names and surnames
European culture is characterized by certain traditional names, from which parents choose the most suitable one for their baby. Fashion trends often change, and one or the other becomes popular, but rarely does anyone come up with a unique name on purpose. In Japanese culture, things are different: there are many more isolated or rarely encountered names. Therefore, there is no traditional list. Japanese names (and surnames too) are often formed from some beautiful words or phrases.
Poetry of the name
First of all, female names are distinguished by a clearly expressed poetic meaning. For example:
- Yuri - "Water Lily".
- Hotaru - "Firefly"
- Izumi - "Fountain".
- Namiko - "Child of the Waves".
- Aika - “Love Song”.
- Natsumi - "Summer Beauty".
- Chiyo - "Eternity".
- Nozomi - "Hope".
- Ima - "Gift".
- Rico - "Child of Jasmine"
- Kiku - "Chrysanthemum".
However, among male names you can find beautiful meanings:
- Keitaro - "Blessed One".
- Toshiro - "Talented".
- Yuki - "Snow";.
- Yuzuki - "Crescent".
- Takehiko - "Bamboo Prince".
- Rhydon - "God of Thunder".
- Toru - "Sea".
Poetry of a surname
It's not just names that are found. And last names can be very poetic. For example:
- Arai - "Wild Well".
- Aoki - "Young (green) tree."
- Yoshikawa - "Happy River".
- Ito - "Wisteria".
- Kikuchi - “Chrysanthemum Pond.”
- Komatsu - "Little Pine".
- Matsuura - "Pine Bay".
- Nagai - "Eternal Well".
- Ozawa - "Little Swamp".
- Oohashi - "Big Bridge".
- Shimizu - “Clean Water”.
- Chiba - "A Thousand Leaves".
- Furukawa - "Old River".
- Yano - "Arrow on the Plain".
Makes you smile
Sometimes there are funny Japanese names and surnames, or rather, ones that sound funny to the Russian ear.
Among these are male names: Banka, Tikhaya (emphasis on the “a”), Usho, Joban, Soshi (emphasis on the “o”). Among the female ones, the following sounds funny for a Russian speaker: Hey, Osa, Ori, Cho, Ruka, Rana, Yura. But such funny examples are extremely rare, given the rich variety of Japanese names.
As for surnames, here you are more likely to find a strange and difficult to pronounce combination of sounds than a funny one. However, this is easily compensated for by numerous funny parodies of Japanese names and surnames. Of course, they were all invented by Russian-speaking jokers, but there is still some phonetic similarity with the originals. For example, this parody: Japanese racer Toyama Tokanawa; or Tohripo Tovisgo. Behind all these “names” a phrase in Russian is easily guessed.
Interesting facts about Japanese names and surnames
In Japan, there is still a law, preserved from the Middle Ages, according to which husband and wife must have the same surname. This is almost always the husband's surname, but there are exceptions - for example, if the wife is from a noble, famous family. However, it is still not the case in Japan that spouses have a double surname or each their own.
In general, in the Middle Ages, only Japanese emperors, aristocrats and samurai had surnames, and ordinary people were content with nicknames, which were often attached to their names. For example, the place of residence, or even the name of the father, was often used as a nickname.
Japanese women often also did not have surnames: it was believed that they had no need, because they were not heirs. The names of girls from aristocratic families often ended in "hime" (meaning "princess"). Samurai wives had names ending in "gozen". They were often addressed by their husband's surname and title. But personal names, both then and now, are used only in close communication. Japanese monks and nuns from the noble classes bore names ending in “in.”
After death, every Japanese person acquires a new name (it is called “kaimyo”). It is written on a sacred wooden tablet called "ihai". A nameplate with a posthumous name is used in burial and memorial rituals, as it is considered to be the embodiment of the spirit of the deceased person. People often acquire kaimyo and ihai u during their lifetime. In the Japanese view, death is not something tragic, but rather one of the stages on the path of the immortal soul.
By learning more about Japanese names and surnames, you can not only learn the basics of the language in a unique way, but also gain a deeper understanding of the philosophy of this people.
Japanese names and their meanings...A Japanese name (Japanese: 人名 jinmei?) these days usually consists of a family name (surname) followed by a personal name. This is a very common practice in East and Southeast Asia, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and some other cultures.
Names are usually written using kanji, which can have many different pronunciations in different cases.
Modern Japanese names can be compared to names in many other cultures. All Japanese have a single surname and a single given name without a middle name, with the exception of the Japanese imperial family, whose members do not have a surname.
In Japan, the surname comes first, and then the given name. At the same time, in Western languages (often also in Russian), Japanese names are written in the reverse order first name - last name - according to European tradition.
Names in Japan are often created independently from existing characters, so the country has a huge number of unique names. Surnames are more traditional and most often go back to place names. There are significantly more first names in Japanese than surnames. Male and female names differ due to their characteristic components and structure. Reading Japanese proper names is one of the most difficult parts of the Japanese language.
Using the tables below you can see how preferences have changed when choosing names over the past almost 100 years:
Popular names for boys
Year/Place 1 2 3 4 5
1915 Kiyoshi Saburou Shigeru Masao Tadashi
1925 Kiyoshi Shigeru Isamu Saburou Hiroshi
1935 Hiroshi Kiyoshi Isamu Minoru Susumu
1945 Masaru Isamu Susumu Kiyoshi Katsutoshi
1955 Takashi Makoto Shigeru Osamu Yutaka
1965 Makoto Hiroshi Osamu Naoki Tetsuya
1975 Makoto Daisuke Manabu Tsuyoshi Naoki
1985 Daisuke Takuya Naoki Kenta Kazuya
1995 Takuya Kenta Shouta Tsubasa Daiki
2000 Shou Shouta Daiki Yuuto Takumi
Popular names for girls
Year/Place 1 2 3 4 5
1915 Chiyo Chiyoko Fumiko Shizuko Kiyo
1925 Sachiko Fumiko Miyoko Hirsako Yoshiko
1935 Kazuko Sachiko Setsuko Hiroko Hisako
1945 Kazuko Sachiko Youko Setsuko Hiroko
1955 Youko Keiko Kyouko Sachiko Kazuko
1965 Akemi Mayumi Yumiko Keiko Kumiko
1975 Kumiko Yuuko Mayumi Tomoko Youko
1985 Ai Mai Mami Megumi Kaori
1995 Misaki Ai Haruka Kana Mai
2000 Sakura Yuuka Misaki Natsuki Nanami
Ai - F - Love
Aiko - F - Favorite child
Akako - F - Red
Akane - F - Sparkling red
Akemi - F - Dazzlingly beautiful
Akeno - M - Clear morning
Aki - F - Born in autumn
Akiko - F - Autumn child
Akina – F – Spring flower
Akio - M - Handsome
Akira - M - Smart, quick-witted
Akiyama - M - Autumn, mountain
Amaya - F - Night rain
Ami - F - Friend
Amida - M - Name of Buddha
Anda - F - Met in the field
Aneko - F - Older sister
Anzu - F - Apricot
Arata - M - Inexperienced
Arisu - F - Japanese. form of the name Alice
Asuka – F – Scent of Tomorrow
Ayame - F - Iris
Azarni – F – Thistle flower
Benjiro - M - Enjoying the World
Botan - M - Peony
Chika - F - Wisdom
Chikako - F - Child of Wisdom
Chinatsu - F - Thousand Years
Chiyo - F - Eternity
Chizu - F - Thousand storks (implies longevity)
Cho - F - Butterfly
Dai - M/F - Great
Daichi - M - Great First Son
Daiki - M - Great Tree
Daisuke - M - Great Help
Etsu - F - Delightful, charming
Etsuko - F - Delightful child
Fudo - M - God of fire and wisdom
Fujita – M/F – Field, meadow
Gin - F - Silver
Goro - M - Fifth Son
Hana - F - Flower
Hanako - F - Flower Child
Haru - M - Born in spring
Haruka - F - Distant
Haruko - F - Spring
Hachiro - M - Eighth Son
Hideaki - M - Brilliant, excellent
Hikaru – M/F – Light, shining
Hide - F - Fertile
Hiroko - F - Generous
Hiroshi - M - Generous
Hitomi - F - Doubly beautiful
Hoshi - F - Star
Hotaka - M - Name of a mountain in Japan
Hotaru - F - Firefly
Ichiro - M - First son
Ima - F - Gift
Isami - M - Bravery
Ishi - F - Stone
Izanami - F - Attractive
Izumi - F - Fountain
Jiro - M - Second Son
Joben - M - Loving cleanliness
Jomei - M - Bringing Light
Junko - F - Pure child
Juro - M - Tenth Son
Kado - M - Gate
Kaede - F - Maple leaf
Kagami - F - Mirror
Kameko - F - Turtle Child (symbol of longevity)
Kanaye - M - Diligent
Kano - M - God of Water
Kasumi - F - Fog
Katashi - M - Hardness
Katsu - M - Victory
Katsuo - M - Victorious Child
Katsuro - M - Victorious Son
Kazuki - M - Joyful World
Kazuko - F - Cheerful child
Kazuo - M - Dear son
Kei - F - Respectful
Keiko - F - Adored
Keitaro - M - Blessed One
Ken - M - Big Man
Ken`ichi - M - Strong first son
Kenji - M - Strong second son
Kenshin - M - Heart of the Sword
Kenta – M – Healthy and brave
Kichi - F - Lucky
Kichiro - M - Lucky Son
Kiku - F - Chrysanthemum
Kimiko - F - Child of noble blood
Kin - M - Golden
Kioko - F - Happy child
Kisho - M - Having a head on his shoulders
Kita - F - North
Kiyoko - F - Clean
Kiyoshi - M - Quiet
Kohaku – M/F – Amber
Kohana - F - Small flower
Koko - F - Stork
Koto - F - Japanese. musical instrument "koto"
Kotone - F - Sound of koto
Kumiko - F - Forever beautiful
Kuri - F - Chestnut
Kuro - M - Ninth Son
Kyo - M - Agreement (or red)
Kyoko - F - Mirror
Leiko - F - Arrogant
Machi - F - Ten thousand years
Machiko - F - Lucky child
Maeko - F - Honest child
Maemi - F - Sincere smile
Mai - F - Bright
Makoto - M - Sincere
Mamiko - F - Child Mami
Mamoru - M - Earth
Manami – F – Beauty of love
Mariko - F - Child of truth
Marise – M/F – Infinite
Masa – M/F – Straightforward (person)
Masakazu - M - First son of Masa
Mashiro - M - Wide
Matsu - F - Pine
Mayako - F - Child Maya
Mayoko - F - Child Mayo
Mayuko - F - Child Mayu
Michi - F - Fair
Michie - F - Gracefully hanging flower
Michiko - F - Beautiful and wise
Michio - M - A man with the strength of three thousand
Midori - F - Green
Mihoko - F - Child Miho
Mika – F – New Moon
Miki – M/F – Stem
Mikio – M – Three woven trees
Mina - F - South
Minako - F - Beautiful child
Mine - F - Brave Defender
Minoru - M - Seed
Misaki – F – The Bloom of Beauty
Mitsuko - F - Child of Light
Miya - F - Three arrows
Miyako - F - Beautiful child of March
Mizuki – F – Beautiful Moon
Momoko - F - Child Peach
Montaro - M - Big Guy
Moriko - F - Child of the Forest
Morio - M - Forest boy
Mura - F - Village
Mutsuko - F - Child Mutsu
Nahoko - F - Child Naho
Nami - F - Wave
Namiko - F - Child of the Waves
Nana - F - Apple
Naoko - F - Obedient child
Naomi – F – “First of all, beauty”
Nara - F - Oak
Nariko - F - Sissy
Natsuko - F - Summer child
Natsumi – F – Wonderful summer
Nayoko - F - Baby Nayo
Nibori - M - Famous
Nikki – M/F – Two trees
Nikko - M - Daylight
Nori - F - Law
Noriko - F - Child of the Law
Nozomi - F - Nadezhda
Nyoko – F – Gemstone
Oki - F - Middle of the ocean
Orino – F – Peasant meadow
Osamu - M - Firmness of the Law
Rafu - M - Network
Rai - F - Truth
Raidon - M - God of Thunder
Ran - F - Water lily
Rei - F - Gratitude
Reiko - F - Gratitude
Ren - F - Water lily
Renjiro - M - Honest
Renzo - M - Third Son
Riko - F - Child of Jasmine
Rin - F - Unfriendly
Rinji - M - Peaceful Forest
Rini - F - Little bunny
Risako - F - Child Risa
Ritsuko - F - Child Ritsu
Roka - M - White wave crest
Rokuro - M - Sixth Son
Ronin - M - Samurai without a master
Rumiko - F - Child Rumi
Ruri - F - Emerald
Ryo - M - Excellent
Ryoichi - M - First son of Ryo
Ryoko - F - Child Ryo
Ryota - M - Strong (fat)
Ryozo - M - Third son of Ryo
Ryuichi - M - First son of Ryu
Ryuu - M - Dragon
Saburo - M - Third Son
Sachi - F - Happiness
Sachiko - F - Child of Happiness
Sachio - M - Fortunately born
Saeko - F - Child Sae
Saki - F - Cape (geographical)
Sakiko - F - Child Saki
Sakuko - F - Child Saku
Sakura – F – Cherry blossoms
Sanako - F - Child Sana
Sango - F - Coral
Saniiro - M - Wonderful
Satu - F - Sugar
Sayuri - F - Little lily
Seiichi - M - Sei's first son
Sen - M - Spirit of the Tree
Shichiro - M - Seventh Son
Shika - F - Deer
Shima - M - Islander
Shina - F - Decent
Shinichi - M - First son of Shin
Shiro - M - Fourth Son
Shizuka - F - Quiet
Sho - M - Prosperity
Sora - F - Sky
Sorano - F - Heavenly
Suki - F - Favorite
Suma - F - Asking
Sumi - F - Purified (religious)
Susumi - M - Moving forward (successful)
Suzu - F - Bell (bell)
Suzume - F - Sparrow
Tadao - M - Helpful
Taka - F - Noble
Takako - F - Tall child
Takara - F - Treasure
Takashi - M - Famous
Takehiko - M - Bamboo Prince
Takeo - M - Bamboo-like
Takeshi - M - Bamboo tree or brave
Takumi - M - Craftsman
Tama – M/F – Gemstone
Tamiko - F - Child of Abundance
Tani - F - From the valley (child)
Taro - M - Firstborn
Taura - F - Many lakes; many rivers
Teijo - M - Fair
Tomeo - M - Cautious person
Tomiko - F - Child of Wealth
Tora - F - Tigress
Torio - M - Bird's tail
Toru - M - Sea
Toshi - F - Mirror image
Toshiro - M - Talented
Toya – M/F – House door
Tsukiko - F - Moon Child
Tsuyu - F - Morning dew
Udo - M - Ginseng
Ume - F - Plum blossom
Umeko – F – Plum Blossom Child
Usagi - F - Rabbit
Uyeda - M - From the rice field (child)
Yachi - F - Eight thousand
Yasu - F - Calm
Yasuo - M - Peaceful
Yayoi - F - March
Yogi – M – Yoga practitioner
Yoko - F - Child of the Sun
Yori - F - Trustworthy
Yoshi - F - Perfection
Yoshiko - F - Perfect Child
Yoshiro - M - Perfect Son
Yuki - M - Snow
Yukiko - F - Snow Child
Yukio - M - Cherished by God
Yuko - F - Kind child
Yumako - F - Child Yuma
Yumi - F - Bow-like (weapon)
Yumiko – F – Arrow Child
Yuri - F - Lily
Yuriko - F - Child of the Lily
Yuu - M - Noble Blood
Yuudai - M - Great Hero
Nagisa - "coast"
Kaworu - “to smell”
Ritsuko - "science", "attitude"
Akagi - "mahogany"
Shinji - "death"
Misato - "beautiful city"
Katsuragi - "fortress with walls entwined with grass"
Asuka - lit. "love-love"
Soryu - "central current"
Ayanami - “strip of fabric”, “wave pattern”
Rei - “zero”, “example”, “soul”
KENSHIN name means "Heart of the Sword".
Akito - Sparkling Man
Kuramori Reika - "Treasure Protector" and "Cold Summer" Rurouni - Wandering Wanderer
Himura - "Burning Village"
Shishio Makoto - True Hero
Takani Megumi - "Love Sublime"
Shinomori Aoshi - "Green Bamboo Forest"
Makimachi Misao - "Run the City"
Saito Hajime - "The Beginning of Human Life"
Hiko Seijuro - "Justice Prevailed"
Seta Sojiro - “Comprehensive Forgiveness”
Mirai - the future
Hajime - boss
Mamoru - protector
Jibo - earth
Hikari - light
Atarashiki - transformations
Namida - tears
Sora - sky
Ginga - the universe
Eva - alive
Izya is a doctor
Usagi - hare
Tsukino - Lunar
Rey - soul
Hino - fire
Ami - rain
Mitsuno - merman
Corey - ice, icy
Makoto is true
Cinema - aerial, forest
Minako - Venus
Aino - loving
Setsuna - guard
Mayo - castle, palace
Haruka - 1) distant, 2) heavenly
Teno - heavenly
Michiru - the way
Kayo - sea
Hotaru - light
Tomo is a friend.
Kaori - soft, affectionate
Yumi - "Fragrant Beauty"
Hakufu - Noble Sign
What to name the child?
For future parents in Japan, special collections of names are published - just like here in general - so that they can choose the most suitable one for their child. In general, the process of choosing (or coming up with) a name comes down to one of the following ways:
1. a keyword can be used in the name - a seasonal phenomenon, a shade of color, a precious stone, etc.
2. the name may contain the parents’ wish to become strong, wise or brave, for which the hieroglyphs of strength, wisdom and courage are used, respectively.
3. You can also go from choosing the hieroglyphs you like most (in different spellings) and combining them with each other.
4. It has recently become popular to name a child based on hearing, i.e. depending on how pleasant the desired name is to the ear. Having chosen the desired pronunciation, they determine the hieroglyphs with which this name will be written.
5. It has always been popular to name a child after celebrities - heroes of historical chronicles, politicians, pop stars, TV series characters, etc.
6. Some parents rely on various fortune telling, believing that the number of traits in the hieroglyphs of the first and last names should be combined with each other.
The most common endings for Japanese names are:
Male names: ~aki, ~fumi, ~go, ~haru, ~hei, ~hiko, ~hisa, ~hide, ~hiro, ~ji, ~kazu, ~ki, ~ma, ~masa, ~michi, ~mitsu , ~nari, ~nobu, ~nori, ~o, ~rou, ~shi, ~shige, ~suke, ~ta, ~taka, ~to, ~toshi, ~tomo, ~ya, ~zou
Female names: ~a, ~chi, ~e, ~ho, ~i, ~ka, ~ki, ~ko, ~mi, ~na, ~no, ~o, ~ri, ~sa, ~ya, ~yo
Nominal suffixes
Personal pronouns
Japanese nominal suffixes and personal pronouns
Nominal suffixes
In the Japanese language, there is a whole set of so-called nominal suffixes, that is, suffixes added in colloquial speech to given names, surnames, nicknames and other words denoting an interlocutor or a third party. They are used to indicate the social relationship between the speaker and the one being spoken about. The choice of suffix is determined by the character of the speaker (normal, rude, very polite), their attitude towards the listener (common politeness, respect, ingratiation, rudeness, arrogance), their position in society and the situation in which the conversation takes place (one-on-one, in a circle of loved ones friends, between colleagues, between strangers, in public). What follows is a list of some of these suffixes (in order of increasing respectfulness) and their usual meanings.
Tian (chan) - A close analogue of the “diminutive” suffixes of the Russian language. Usually used in relation to a junior or inferior in a social sense, with whom a close relationship develops. There is an element of baby talk in the use of this suffix. Typically used when adults address children, boys address their girlfriends, girlfriends address each other, and small children address each other. The use of this suffix in relation to people who are not very close, equal in status to the speaker, is impolite. Let’s say, if a guy addresses a girl his age in this way, with whom he is not “having an affair,” then he is being inappropriate. A girl who addresses a guy of her own age in this way, with whom she is not “having an affair,” is, in essence, being rude.
Kun (kun) - An analogue of the address “comrade”. Most often used between men or in relation to guys. Indicates, rather, a certain “officiality” of, nevertheless, close relationships. Let's say, between classmates, partners or friends. It can also be used in relation to juniors or inferior in a social sense, when there is no need to focus on this circumstance.
Yang (yan) - Kansai analogue of "-chan" and "-kun".
Pyon (pyon) - Children's version of "-kun".
Tti (cchi) - Children's version of "-chan" (cf. "Tamagotti".
Without a suffix - Close relationships, but without “lisping.” The usual address of adults to teenage children, friends to each other, etc. If a person does not use suffixes at all, then this is a clear indicator of rudeness. Calling by last name without a suffix is a sign of familiar, but “detached” relationships (a typical example is the relationship of schoolchildren or students).
San (san) - An analogue of the Russian “Mr./Madam”. A general indication of respect. Often used to communicate with strangers, or when all other suffixes are inappropriate. Used in relation to elders, including older relatives (brothers, sisters, parents).
Han (han) - Kansai equivalent of "-san".
Si (shi) - “Master”, used exclusively in official documents after the surname.
Fujin - “Lady”, used exclusively in official documents after the surname.
Kouhai - Appeal to the younger. Especially often - at school in relation to those who are younger than the speaker.
Senpai (senpai) - Appeal to an elder. Especially often - at school in relation to those who are older than the speaker.
Dono (dono) - Rare suffix. Respectful address to an equal or superior, but slightly different in position. Currently considered obsolete and practically not found in communication. In ancient times, it was actively used when samurai addressed each other.
Sensei - “Teacher”. Used to refer to teachers and lecturers themselves, as well as doctors and politicians.
Senshu - “Sportsman.” Used to refer to famous athletes.
Zeki - "Sumo wrestler." Used to refer to famous sumo wrestlers.
Ue (ue) - “Elder”. A rare and outdated respectful suffix used for older family members. Not used with names - only with designations of position in the family (“father”, “mother”, “brother”).
Sama - The highest degree of respect. Appeal to gods and spirits, to spiritual authorities, girls to lovers, servants to noble masters, etc. Roughly translated into Russian as “respected, dear, venerable.”
Jin (jin) - “One of.” "Saya-jin" means "one of Saya."
Tachi (tachi) - “And friends.” "Goku-tachi" - "Goku and his friends."
Gumi - “Team, group, party.” "Kenshin-gumi" - "Team Kenshin".
Japanese names and their meanings
Personal pronouns
In addition to nominal suffixes, Japan also uses many different ways to address each other and refer to themselves using personal pronouns. The choice of pronoun is determined by the social laws already mentioned above. The following is a list of some of these pronouns.
Group with the meaning "I"
Watakushi - A very polite female version.
Washi - An outdated polite option. Doesn't depend on gender.
Wai - Kansai equivalent of washi.
Boku (Boku) - Familiar youth male version. Rarely used by women, in this case “unfemininity” is emphasized. Used in poetry.
Ore - Not a very polite option. Purely masculine. Like, cool. ^_^
Ore-sama - "Great Self". A rare form, an extreme degree of boasting.
Daiko or Naiko (Daikou/Naikou) - Similar to “ore-sama”, but somewhat less boastful.
Sessha - Very polite form. Typically used by samurai when addressing their masters.
Hishou - “Insignificant.” A very polite form, now practically not used.
Gusei - Similar to hisho, but somewhat less derogatory.
Oira - Polite form. Typically used by monks.
Chin - A special form that only the emperor has the right to use.
Ware (Ware) - Polite (formal) form, translated as [I/you/he] “himself.” Used when the importance of “I” needs to be particularly expressed. For example, in spells (“I conjure.” In modern Japanese it is rarely used in the meaning of “I”. It is more often used to form a reflexive form, for example, “forgetting about oneself” - “ware wo wasurete.”
[Speaker's name or position] - Used by or when communicating with children, usually within the family. Let's say a girl named Atsuko might say "Atsuko is thirsty." Or her older brother, addressing her, may say, “Brother will bring you juice.” There is an element of “lisping” in this, but such treatment is quite acceptable.
Group meaning “We”
Watashi-tachi - Polite option.
Ware-ware - Very polite, formal option.
Bokura - Impolite option.
Touhou - Regular option.
Group with the meaning “You/You”:
Anata - General polite option. It is also common for a wife to address her husband (“dear”).
Anta - Less polite option. Typically used by young people. A slight hint of disrespect.
Otaku - Literally translated as "Your home." A very polite and rare form. Due to the ironic use by Japanese informals in relation to each other, the second meaning was fixed - “feng, crazy.”
Kimi - Polite option, often between friends. Used in poetry.
Kijou - “Mistress”. A very polite form of addressing a lady.
Onushi - “Insignificant.” An outdated form of polite speech.
Omae - Familiar (when addressing an enemy - offensive) option. Usually used by men in relation to a socially younger person (father to daughter, say).
Temae/Temee (Temae/Temee) - Insulting male version. Usually in relation to the enemy. Something like “bastard” or “bastard.”
Honore (Onore) - Insulting option.
Kisama - A very offensive option. Translated with dots. ^_^ Oddly enough, it literally translates as “noble master.”
Japanese names
Modern Japanese names consist of two parts - the surname, which comes first, and the given name, which comes second. True, the Japanese often write their names in “European order” (first name - surname) if they write them in romaji. For convenience, the Japanese sometimes write their last name in CAPITAL letters so that it is not confused with their first name (due to the inconsistency described above).
The exception is the emperor and members of his family. They don't have a last name. Girls who marry princes also lose their surnames.
Ancient names and surnames
Before the Meiji Restoration, only aristocrats (kuge) and samurai (bushi) had surnames. The rest of the Japanese population was content with personal names and nicknames.
Women of aristocratic and samurai families also usually did not have surnames, since they did not have the right of inheritance. In those cases where women did have surnames, they did not change them upon marriage.
Surnames were divided into two groups - the surnames of aristocrats and the surnames of samurai.
Unlike the number of samurai surnames, the number of aristocratic surnames has practically not increased since ancient times. Many of them went back to the priestly past of the Japanese aristocracy.
The most respected and respected clans of aristocrats were: Konoe, Takashi, Kujo, Ichijo and Gojo. All of them belonged to the Fujiwara clan and had a common name - “Gosetsuke”. From among the men of this family, regents (sessho) and chancellors (kampaku) of Japan were appointed, and from among the women, wives for the emperors were chosen.
The next most important clans were the Hirohata, Daigo, Kuga, Oimikado, Saionji, Sanjo, Imaidegawa, Tokudaji and Kaoin clans. The highest state dignitaries were appointed from among them.
Thus, representatives of the Saionji clan served as imperial grooms (meryo no gogen). Next came all the other aristocratic clans.
The hierarchy of nobility of aristocratic families began to take shape in the 6th century and lasted until the end of the 11th century, when power in the country passed to the samurai. Among them, the clans Genji (Minamoto), Heike (Taira), Hojo, Ashikaga, Tokugawa, Matsudaira, Hosokawa, Shimazu, Oda enjoyed special respect. A number of their representatives at different times were shoguns (military rulers) of Japan.
The personal names of aristocrats and high-ranking samurai were formed from two kanji (hieroglyphs) with a “noble” meaning.
Personal names of samurai servants and peasants were often given according to the principle of "numbering". The first son is Ichiro, the second is Jiro, the third is Saburo, the fourth is Shiro, the fifth is Goro, etc. Also, in addition to “-ro”, the suffixes “-emon”, “-ji”, “-zo”, “-suke”, “-be” were used for this purpose.
Upon entering the period of adolescence, the samurai chose a different name for himself than the one given to him at birth. Sometimes samurai changed their names throughout adult life, for example, to emphasize the onset of a new period (promotion or moving to another duty station). The master had the right to rename his vassal. In cases of serious illness, the name was sometimes changed to that of Amida Buddha to appeal to his mercy.
According to the rules of samurai duels, before the fight, the samurai had to say his full name so that the enemy could decide whether he was worthy of such an opponent. Of course, in life this rule was observed much less often than in novels and chronicles.
The suffix "-hime" was added to the end of the names of girls from noble families. It is often translated as "princess", but in fact it was used in relation to all noble young ladies.
The suffix “-gozen” was used for the names of samurai wives. They were often called simply by their husband's surname and rank. Personal names of married women were practically used only by their close relatives.
For the names of monks and nuns from the noble classes, the suffix “-in” was used.
Modern names and surnames
During the Meiji Restoration, all Japanese people were given surnames. Naturally, most of them were associated with various signs of peasant life, especially with rice and its processing. These surnames, like the surnames of the upper class, were also usually made up of two kanji.
The most common Japanese surnames now are Suzuki, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Saito, Sato, Sasaki, Kudo, Takahashi, Kobayashi, Kato, Ito, Murakami, Oonishi, Yamaguchi, Nakamura, Kuroki, Higa.
Men's names have changed less. They also often depend on the “serial number” of the son in the family. The suffixes "-ichi" and "-kazu" meaning "first son" are often used, as are the suffixes "-ji" ("second son" and "-zō" ("third son").
Most Japanese female names end in “-ko” (“child” or “-mi” (“beauty”). Girls, as a rule, are given names associated with everything beautiful, pleasant and feminine. Unlike male names, female names names are usually written in hiragana rather than kanji.
Some modern girls do not like the ending “-ko” in their names and prefer to omit it. For example, a girl named "Yuriko" might call herself "Yuri".
According to a law passed during the time of Emperor Meiji, after marriage, husband and wife are legally required to adopt the same surname. In 98% of cases this is the husband's last name. For several years now, parliament has been discussing an amendment to the Civil Code allowing spouses to keep premarital surnames. However, so far she cannot get the required number of votes.
After death, a Japanese person receives a new, posthumous name (kaimyo), which is written on a special wooden tablet (ihai). This tablet is considered to be the embodiment of the spirit of the deceased and is used in funeral rites. Kaimyo and ihai are purchased from Buddhist monks - sometimes even before the person's death.
The surname in Japanese is called "myoji" (苗字 or 名字), "uji" (氏) or "sei" (姓).
The vocabulary of the Japanese language has long been divided into two types: wago (Japanese 和語?) - native Japanese words and kango (Japanese 漢語?) - borrowed from China. Names are also divided into these types, although a new type is now actively expanding - gairaigo (Japanese 外来語?) - words borrowed from other languages, but components of this type are rarely used in names.
Modern Japanese names are divided into the following groups:
kunnye (consisting of vago)
onny (consisting of kango)
mixed
The ratio of kun and on surnames is approximately 80% to 20%.
The most common surnames in Japan:
Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 Sato:?)
Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木?)
Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋?)
Tanaka (Japanese: 田中?)
Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺?)
Ito (Japanese: 伊藤 Ito:?)
Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本?)
Nakamura (Japanese: 中村?)
Ohayashi (Japanese: 小林?)
Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林?) (different surnames, but spelled the same and have approximately the same distribution)
Kato (Japanese: 加藤 Kato:?)
Many surnames, although read according to the onon (Chinese) reading, go back to ancient Japanese words and are written phonetically, and not by meaning.
Examples of such surnames: Kubo (Japanese 久保?) - from Japanese. kubo (Japanese 窪?) - hole; Sasaki (Japanese 佐々木?) - from the ancient Japanese sasa - small; Abe (Japanese 阿部?) - from the ancient word ape - to connect, mix. If we take into account such surnames, then the number of native Japanese surnames reaches 90%.
For example, the character 木 (“tree”) is read in kun as ki, but in names it can also be read as ko; The character 上 (“up”) can be read in kun as either ue or kami. There are two different surnames, Uemura and Kamimura, which are written the same - 上村. In addition, there are dropouts and fusions of sounds at the junction of components, for example, in the surname Atsumi (Japanese 渥美?), the components individually are read as atsui and umi; and the surname 金成 (kana + nari) is often read simply as Kanari.
When combining hieroglyphs, it is typical to alternate the endings of the first component A/E and O/A - for example, 金 kane - Kanagawa (Japanese 金川?), 白 shiro - Shiraoka (Japanese 白岡?). In addition, the initial syllables of the second component often become voiced, for example 山田 Yamada (yama + ta), 宮崎 Miyazaki (miya + saki). Also, surnames often contain the remainder of the case indicator but or ha (in ancient times it was customary to place them between the first and last names). Usually this indicator is not written, but is read - for example, 一宮 Ichinomiya (ichi + miya); 榎本 Enomoto (e + moto). But sometimes the case indicator is displayed in writing in hiragana, katakana or hieroglyph - for example, 井之上 Inoue (and + but + ue); 木ノ下 Kinoshita (ki + katakana no + shita).
The vast majority of surnames in Japanese consist of two characters; surnames with one or three characters are less common, and surnames with four or more characters are very rare.
One-component surnames are mainly of Japanese origin and are formed from nouns or medial forms of verbs. For example, Watari (Japanese 渡?) - from watari (Japanese 渡り crossing?), Hata (Japanese 畑?) - the word hata means “plantation, vegetable garden.” Significantly less common are surnames consisting of one hieroglyph. For example, Cho (Japanese 兆 Cho:?) means “trillion”, In (Japanese 因?) means “reason”.
The majority of Japanese surnames consisting of two components are reported as 60-70%. Of these, the majority are surnames from Japanese roots - it is believed that such surnames are the easiest to read, since most of them are read according to the usual kuns used in the language. Examples - Matsumoto (Japanese 松本?) - consists of the nouns matsu “pine” and moto “root” used in the language; Kiyomizu (Japanese: 清水?) - consists of the adjective stem 清い kiyoi - “pure” and the noun 水 mizu - “water”. Chinese two-part surnames are less numerous and usually have one single reading. Often Chinese surnames contain numbers from one to six (excluding four 四, since this number is read in the same way as “death” 死 si and they try not to use it). Examples: Ichijo: (Japanese: 一条?), Saito: (Japanese: 斉藤?). There are also mixed surnames, where one component is read as on, and the other as kun. Examples: Honda (Japanese 本田?), hon - “base” (on reading) + ta - “rice field” (kun reading); Betsumiya (Japanese 別宮?), betsu - “special, different” (on reading) + miya - “temple” (kun reading). Also, a very small part of surnames can be read both in onam and kun: 坂西 Banzai and Sakanishi, 宮内 Kunai and Miyauchi.
Three-component surnames often contain Japanese roots written phonetically. Examples: 久保田 "Kubota (probably the word 窪 kubo "hole" is written phonetically as 久保), 阿久津 Akutsu (probably the word 明く aku "to open" is written phonetically as 阿久). However, ordinary three-component surnames consisting of three kun readings are also common. Examples: 矢田部 Yatabe, 小野木 Onoki. There are also three-component surnames with Chinese reading.
Four or more component surnames are very rare.
There are surnames with very unusual readings that look like puzzles. Examples: 十八女 Wakairo - written in hieroglyphs for “eighteen-year-old girl”, and read as 若色 “young + color”; The surname denoted by the hieroglyph 一 “one” is read as Ninomae, which can be translated as 二の前 ni no mae “before two”; and the surname 穂積 Hozue, which can be interpreted as “gathering ears of grain”, is sometimes written as 八月一日 “the first day of the eighth lunar month” - apparently on this day in ancient times the harvest began.